At the same time, on the twenty-ninth level of Doushuai Palace. Little Aunt wore an increasingly grim expression, her eyes filled with urgency. The Ruo horde had already breached the thirteenth level of Doushuai Palace.
Countless restrictions and formations had been flattened by the sheer number of Ruos, overwhelmed by brute-force destruction in what could only be described as a sea of Ruo tactic. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝘯𝘦𝘵
At this pace, it would take no more than an hour before the twenty-ninth level fell as well. That massive golden vertical pupil in the endless distance beyond was growing ever clearer and more distinct. Even the figure behind the eye was beginning to take form.
The terrifying pressure of a superior being was so immense that even those within Doushuai Palace, Little Aunt, Tan Qingying, and the others, felt suffocated. They felt like their bones might shatter at any moment under that crushing weight.
The Eight Trigrams Furnace continued to spin in midair. It emitted boundless radiance as illusions of the eight trigram patterns shimmered across the twenty-ninth level. It was as if the whole of Doushuai Palace was about to merge with the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Yet something still seemed to be missing. As a result, its full power could not be unleashed.
“This won’t do,” said Little Aunt as she grew more anxious.
He’s only gone up three levels to retrieve the Blood-Drinking Sword. Why hasn’t there been the slightest sign of movement?
“Little Aunt...” Tan Qingying suddenly spoke.
Little Aunt turned her head. The young lady was drenched in tears.
Little Aunt paused, startled, and asked with deep concern. “What’s wrong?”
Tears streamed down Tan Qingying’s face as she said, “I don’t know why... but I suddenly feel this overwhelming pain in my heart, like I can’t breathe... as if something is about to leave me forever. I’m so scared...”
A terrible premonition gripped Little Aunt.
At that very moment, a terrifying sound wave, like a Single-Dao resonance between heaven and earth, echoed from the far reaches of the void. Little Aunt’s expression changed instantly as she rushed to the window without a second thought.
Her heart sank as she saw a fracture had appeared in the vast void that was spreading at a speed visible to the naked eye. Behind that crack, the vague outline of an enormous beast’s body shimmered with golden phosphorescence. It was ramming against the fractures, trying to break free.
The Mother of All Beasts! It’s about to escape.
Despair welled up within her. That most terrifying of monsters, one of the highest-tier entities within the Reaper faction, was awakening from endless slumber and about to return to the universe once more.
The Five Great Immortal Emperors were fighting far at the edges of the galaxy and the human military divisions barely held the frontlines in balance. If the Mother of All Beasts broke through the seal and appeared behind human lines in the Star Battlefield, the consequences would be catastrophic.
The damage had already been fatal when it descended upon Heaven. If it were to descend again, it would mean doomsday for countless humans. But what could be done?
Little Aunt felt a deep sense of helplessness. This wasn’t just a gap in cultivation or combat strength. It was a true disparity in the fundamental essence of life; a gap that no amount of willpower or determination could bridge or overcome.
The barrier between space and time shattered completely. Fragments of space broke apart like a mirror. A colossal golden beast, so massive that its boundaries couldn’t even be seen, finally broke free from its prison.
The vast body of the Mother of All Beasts blotted out the sky. It resembled a giant ant, yet the golden phosphorescence gave it an aura that was both sacred and awe-inspiring. It stepped out from the void and into the ruins of Heaven, causing the earth to quake and mountains to collapse. It fixed its gaze upon Doushuai Palace with eyes of hatred.
"I... have returned." An overwhelming wave of spiritual force swept out like an apocalyptic hurricane.
Even Doushuai Palace itself began to shatter under the weight of that declaration. Cracks split through its walls, and countless flakes of jade-colored dust peeled away from the palace structure. The grand jade palace was on the verge of complete annihilation, like it was ready to collapse into dust at any moment.
Little Aunt, Tan Qingying, and the others had expressions of utter despair. It was too late. The Mother of All Beasts had fully broken free. Even if Li Xiaofei managed to retrieve the Blood-Drinking Sword, it was now impossible to seal her away again. Fate had become cruel and monstrous in its savagery.
“I’m going to find Brother Xiaofei. Even if it’s the end of the world, I want to die by his side.” Tan Qingying charged toward the staircase.
Her resolve was absolute. She was willing to give up everything. Little Aunt did not stop her. She too wished to find Li Xiaofei... But just then—
"Woof?" The Black Emperor suddenly let out a confused bark.
It seemed to have sensed something. In that very instant, a power unlike anything before surged from above Doushuai Palace. It was vast and overwhelming as it rushed forth and rapidly swept across the Six Directions and Eight Wastelands, radiating outward in all directions.
The hordes of mutated Ruos within and beyond Doushuai Palace were instantly consumed by this force. They were turned to ash and scattered to the wind. Not even the powerful sub-primal Ruo or the silver Ruo were spared as they too vanished in an instant. It was as if something... or someone had descended upon Doushuai Palace.
Little Aunt and Tan Qingying looked up in unison.